With his most recent couture collection, 'Devi: The Eternal Muse,' Indian designer Rahul Mishra firmly brought attention to India's centuries-old craftsmanship during Paris Haute Couture Week 2026.
Global celebrities Cardi B and Isha Ambani appeared in unique Rahul Mishra pieces that matched the collection's major theme—celebrating the divine feminine via India's ancient artistic traditions. The showcase, which was presented on 7th July, 2026, featured fashion, sculpture, and heritage.
How Rahul Mishra Transformed Indian Temple Art into Couture
For his Autumn/Winter 2026-27 Haute Couture presentation in Paris, Rahul Mishra looked beyond conventional fashion references and drew inspiration from India's ancient temple sculptures, particularly the intricate carvings of South Indian temples and the Ajanta caves.
Titled 'Devi: The Eternal Muse,' the collection explored feminine strength, spirituality and resilience through sculptural silhouettes, dense embroidery, hand appliqué and elaborate beadwork that recreated the texture of carved stone.
Temple-inspired crowns, handcrafted headpieces and dramatic accessories further blurred the line between sculpture and couture. Describing the collection, Mishra called it "almost like time travel," as centuries-old Indian craftsmanship was reimagined for a global runway.
With each outfit seeking hundreds of hours of meticulous hand embroidery and craftsmanship, the show also displayed the work of Indian artisans.
Cardi B and Isha Ambani Became the Faces of the Collection
Rahul Mishra's increasing global impact was reflected in the front row. In a handcrafted ivory sculptural corset gown inspired by the 12th-century Mohini sculpture at Karnataka's Chennakeshava Temple, Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B delivered one of the week's most striking fashion statements.
Along with a traditional maang tikka, bold earrings, a Tanishq diamond necklace, and Gianvito Rossi heels, the ensemble included illusion embroidery, elaborate waist details, and dramatic shoulder structures. Fans across social media described the look as "walking art" and "a goddess brought to life."
Reliance director Isha Ambani sat next to her in a custom metallic-grey couture outfit that had a sheer stole that echoed the architectural language of the Devi collection, a sculpted draped skirt, and a wildly decorated corset.
She carried the extremely rare Hermès Sac Bijou Birkin, made of 18-karat white gold and embellished with 3,25 diamonds, worth more than $2 million, and finished the ensemble with more than 100 carats of Lorraine Schwartz diamonds.
Together, the two women embodied Rahul Mishra's vision of modern-day goddesses while reinforcing the growing global appeal of Indian couture and craftsmanship.
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